Hey sweet siestas!
How much fun is this? Can we all just stop for a minute and thank our beloved leader, Bible teacher and yes, friend, for spurring us on in this world of scripture memory? I fail every time on my own. We need our people to conquer this task, don’t we? I’m good for a couple of months and then I flat out quit and blame it on something other than myself. But, I won’t quit if I have y’all! I’m thankful for this community. I’m thankful for the accountability. Memorizing scripture has transformed my heart and mind…the Word is living, and we have the privilege to breathe it in when we open those sacred pages and be changed from the inside out.
Something that I have done as I have memorized scripture is to write a brief synopsis of why I chose the verse on the back of the index card. I also date it. At the end of the year, it’s so powerful to go back and read a mini-journal of God’s faithfulness and the journey you’ve taken together that particular year. Go back and do that if you haven’t done it already. I’ll bet it won’t take you long to recall why you picked a particular verse. It will be a sweet gift to read through at the end of 2015.
Ok, my name is Fran Thomas and I’ve been married to Chip for 21 years! That’s crazy to me! I swear I’m still 30-something. We have 3 teenage boys. That’s another kind of crazy! Our oldest is 18. (Insert tears of high school graduation, starting college and hoping you can cook and do laundry on your own) It’s nuts, y’all. Savor the moments, mommas. It flies.
We are living life in Jackson, TN, and I love our community of people here. I work at Union University, teach college girls on Sunday mornings, sing in the choir, and serve with our jail ministry at Englewood Baptist Church. I am also a partner in a non-profit ministry with my two best friends, Christy and Robyn, that we founded called “More than a Mission Trip.” Our heart is missions in every form and fashion. Our heart is for the lost, the saved who are lost, God’s precious people at the ends of the earth and those who are around the corner. Our desire is to encourage other women to serve God locally and globally…there is no better time than NOW to love, obey and serve Him with all we have! We can’t question or delay what God clearly calls us to do.
So how appropriate for me to choose a verse that has me in a season of being scared to death of what God has called me to do. Would this be the Christian “pot calling the kettle black” or what? I like safe and comfy just like you do. It’s predictable and doesn’t make my stomach hurt. I know the scriptural promises from Him, but there is simply something terrifying about taking new steps with Him after a season of predictability. *sigh*
So, we press on, sisters. We believe Him and take Him at His word. I’m doing this even with the butterflies alive and churning about! Unfortunately, I think I have an unbelief issue right now, but I’m choosing to believe Him for this season because He is able! He is faithful… Me? Not so much. He never fails. NEVER.
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6
I don’t want to doubt or be tossed around because of my unbelief. I want my feet to be steady and secure in Him, His voice, and His direction. I really want to believe Him and trust Him even with these butterflies during this new season. I don’t just want to say, “Yes, Lord I believe you,” but it only be a temporary belief or trust. We’ll start strong and then fade, don’t we?
Lord, help my unbelief.
It’s easy to say, “Sure, I’ll get out of the boat, and walk toward Jesus,” but it’s a whole other thing to actually put the feet into motion, isn’t it? Let’s not be tossed around, sisters. Let’s walk by faith and take Him at His Word. Let’s choose to believe Him girls!! Declare it even when we don’t feel it. We’ll begin to believe what we know and speak over that situation. Let’s declare the Truth that we are hiding in our hearts.
Y’all are such a blast! Hang in there and march on strong and steady because we are MORE than conquerors! We CAN do this because He WILL show us the way! He will NOT leave us! He WILL show Himself faithful! He has good plans for this season! He will NOT harm us! And on and on and on the promises go. Declare them. Believe them.
It’s such an honor to journey alongside you. I will be your biggest fan and cheer you on like nobody’s business. Fix those pretty eyes on Jesus and let’s run our race well. I’m praying for us all. I desperately need Jesus and His Word.
Love y’all,
Fran
Valerie Finch, Warrensburg, MO
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”, Matthew 6:34, MSG
Nancy- Chattanooga, TN
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for human masters, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the LORD as a reward. It is the LORD Christ you are serving.”
Natalie Macek, from Damascus, MD: “So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.'” 2 Kings 6:16, NKJV
Jody Bowhay in Huntsville, AL NIV
Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Kim Fishers, IN “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3 NIV
Marilyn, Houston, TX: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”. Psalm 23:1 NIV
“The Lord is my Shepherd (to feed, guide and shield me), I shall not lack”. AMP
Cindi Latson, Madison, MS
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:17. NIV
I forgot to say where I am from!!
I am Kari Hawkins from Canton, Ga!!
Carol M
Canton, MI
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
James 2:23
Wendy
Harrodsburg, Kentucky
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
Ephesians 1:13, NIV
DeAnne, Talmage, KS “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 NIV
Christy MacDonald, St. Clements, Ontario, Canada
“But whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on His law day and night.” Psalm 1:2 NIV
Kay Tucker – Elyria,OH
“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
Colossians 1:10
Sherry Page
Elizabeth,CO
Psalms 18:3 NIV
I call to the LORD,who is worthy
of praise and I am saved from my
enemies.
Km Cook – Valley, AL
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. – Ephesians 6:18 NIV
What a great piece! I too have an 18 year old leaving for college. He’s a smart kid, won all kinds of academic scholarship and plans to pursue chemical engineering and yet I still worry whether he’ll figure out how to do his laundry, who he’ll call when he left his notebook in his dorm room, or what he’ll do when he misses his Mom (despite how he laughs and rolls his eyes when I say that, I know he will!)
I am also a single mom of five boys. My husband left suddenly five months into the surprise pregnancy of that fifth little guy for a wealthy ex girlfriend he reconnected with on Facebook. What tumultuous seas we found ourselves in! How crazy was it that the Lord called us out of the boat where we had been lazily coasting past our faith. How crazy is it that Jesus met us in that storm and led us to the Holy Spirit.
Today, over 6 years later, we are still meeting obstacles. I have an awareness of a level of pain I did not know existed before and an awareness that there are levels even beyond those I feel – something unfathomable to me, just vague, heartbreaking awareness that some experience worse and there is little I can do to solve their pain except pray. Despite the hardships of this life, I have a calm, a peace that is impossible to explain. This is not the end, but the beginning and God is good when we get out of our boats, whether by choice or by shove, and choose to reach for Him.
God Bless…
Linda Dameron
Cape Canaveral, FL
“His divine power has given us everthing we need
for life and godliness through our knowledge
of him who called us by his own glory and
goodness.”
2 Peter 1:3
NIV
Rhonda Rowe, Kingston, OK:
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 NIV
Mary Ruth Franklin
Lanexa, VA
Ephesians 1: 3-6 (NASB)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Giovana Cavarretta, Boca Raton, FL
“Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.”
Proverbs 4:13 ESV
Donna, Ponder, TX Deuteronomy 13:4 NLT Serve only the Lord your God and fear Him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him.
Jessica, Vicksburg, MS. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (NIV).
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NKJV)
Danielle Pleasant,Pinewood,SC
Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:20 NKJV
Kristie, Montgomery, TX:
“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” Colossians 1:9 NIV
Mary Jayne Fincher, Qulin MO
“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
I Peter 5: 7
NKJV
Miami, Fl
“Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.”
1 Corinthians 6:12 AMP
“…You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:9b,10
Marla Ritter, Benton AR. Psalm 1:3 NIV: “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.”
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18~
Erin G., Columbus, OH
And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:24 AMP
This is a continuation of my verse from last time. I am working on the discipline of examen, with no condemnation.
But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
Psalm 3:3 NKJV
Christy Jones, Summit, MS; “Indeed, the very numbers of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7 NIV
Nicole///Dallas///Psalm 23:1-2 NIV
1″the Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures”
Meg Alexandria, VA
“I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.” Hosea 2:19-20 NIV
Royse City, TX
8/15/15 NAS
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
-Prov 3:3
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
Isaiah 61:10 NIV
Carolyn O, Cypress, TX
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares The Lord.
Psalm 55:8 NIV
Tracy Pratz, Las Cruces NM
Matthew 11:28 NIV
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Rebecca M., Clifton, NJ. “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.'” Psalm 16:1-2. ESV
Janice
Arcanum,Oh
“When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within, Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalms 73:21-26 NASB
Carol Givens Mcalisterville, PA
Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Nikki R., Alwxandria, LA, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26
Scarlett N., Savannah, GA
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4 NIV
Margo Burlington ON
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.Heb 4:16 NIV
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
Kim, Amherst, Ohio
Jer. 29:13 NIV
You will seek me and find me when
you seek me with all your heart.
Susan Bostaph. Buffalo, NY
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
Through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
I I Peter 1:3
April Mozingo Garland TX “For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” -Philippians2:21 ESV
2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.